Structure for furniture and the like



June 4, 1957 J. J. wETzLER STRUCTURE EUR FURNITURE ANU THE LIKE FiledJune 2l, 1954 United States Patent O STRUCTURE Fon FURNITURE AND TimLIKE Justin J. Wetzler, Evanston, lll., assignor to The EnglanderCompany, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Y ApplicationJune 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,256

5 Claims. (Cl. 1755-180) The present invention relates to a novelstructure -for use 1n furniture such, for example, as chairs, divans,box

springs and vehicle seats, and more particularly, to a i As set forth inthe above mentioned co-pending applii' A' cation, wood has heretoforegenerally Abeen used for prof viding frames for box spring structuresand various pieces of furniture,Y but vsuch wooden frames are subjectvto a number of disadvantages which maybe overcome by pro# viding metalframes of the type described in the above mentioned cro-pendingapplication. One problem Vthat arisesY when utilizing metal frames ofthe type contemplated herein is the attachment vof covering fabricsections or panels to the metal frame since such usual devices asincludes a substantially at longitudinally extending portacks andstaples cannot be used. It is, therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a novel structure including a metal framemember and a fabric panel, which structure is formed so that the fabricpanel may be readily attached to the metal frame in a manner that willpermit the fabric to have a neat, unwrinkled l' appearance,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel metalframe member of the above described type with means for gripping orsecuring a vfabric panel or section substantially through the entirelength of the frame member whereby the fabric panel may be uniformlyheld along its length so as to reduce any possibility of bulges orwrinkles appearing therein.

Patented June 4, 1957 ICC with a metal frame member similar to the framemember shown iniFig. 6 but embodying a slightly modified form ofthisinvention; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 7 andshowing how the fabric gripping metal portion of the metal frame membershown in Fig. 8 may be deformed to its ultimate fabric retainingposition.

Referring now more specilically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, astructure 10 embodying the preferred form of the present invention isshown in Figs. l through 4. The structure 10 includes a sheet metalframe member 12, a covering fabric panel or section 14, and a member 16mounted on the frame member forv securing the fabric panel to the framemember. In instances when the structure 10 is to be utilized in a boxspring unit frame of the type shown in the aforementioned co-pendingapplication, it may be desired to provide the structure with a dustprotecting fabric panel 1 8 for covering the bottom of the box springunit frame, not shown, which dust protecting panel may also be securedto the frame member 12 by the securing member 16. The Vframe member 12is formed from sheet metal and includes a web portion 20 and integrallaterally extending anges 22 and 24. A longitudinally extendingmidportion of the` web 20 is provided with an inwardly formed channelsection including inwardly bent portions 26 and ,28' Yjoined by asection 30. Various uses and advantages ofthe metal frame member 12 arefully set forth in the above mentioned copendingapplication.

The member 16 is formed from sheet spring metal and tion-32 vwhich issecured to the flange 24 of the frame member by means of a plurality ofspaced welds 3 4. The member 16 also includes a longitudinally extendingsection 36 which extends from the section 32 and flares outwardlyordownwardly from the ange 24. The sectionr 36 merges with an inwardlycurved and reversely extending portion 38 which has a serrated free'marginal edge or an edge provided with a series of closely spacedpointed teeth 40. The sections 36 and 38 of the securing Still anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a novel metal framememberY 'of the above described type having means thereon into which aportion of a fabric panel may be easily inserted, which means isoperable positively to prevent withdrawal of the fabric. Other objectsand advantages of the present invention lwill becomeapparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective 'view showing a structure embodyingthe principles of this'invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View Y taken alongline 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view similar toFig. 2 and showing the novel structure in greater detail;

Fig. 4 is Aa perspective view of an element ladapted'to panel to theframe member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View similar to Fig. 3 andshowing a slightly modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another modiiied formof the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the manner inwhich a fabric panel may be assembled be'secured to a metal frame memberfor attaching afabric member 16 are formed s'o that the teeth 40 arenormally resiliently urged into contact or substantially into contactwith the ange 24.

When assembling the fabric panel or section 14 with the frame member,the margin of the fabric panel is forcedbetween the teeth 40 and theange 24 as shown best'in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the inwardinclination of the teeth facilitates insertion of the fabric through therestricted opening between the teeth and the flange whereupon the teethdig into the fabric and positively prevent withdrawal of the fabric. Thefabric may be easily inserted with the aid of any simple flat bladedtool such as the tool 42 shown in Fig. 2 as will be understood.' Thedust protecting fabric 1S is inserted into the securing member in thesame manner as the fabric panel 14 and is shown best in Fig. 3. Theteeth 40 are preferably forme'd so that they are long enough to pierceboth 'ofthe panels 14 and 13.

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form ofthe present invention which issubstantially similar to the above described structure as indicated bythe application 'of iden- 'tical reference numerals with the sulix aadded to corresponding elements. This embodiment diifers only in thatthe fabric panel 14a is provided with a marginal hem portion 44 which issewn as at 46 and a wire 48 is inserted into the hem. The hem and theWire are then forced into the securing member 16a whereupon the wire isengageable with the inner surface of the teeth 40a. This structure hasan advantage in that the margin of the fabric panel is even moresecurely retained in assembled relationship with the frame member andcannot be removed witbontfrst nnnnnally bending,themen;-

ber 16 away from the flange 24a suiciently to permit withdrawal of thewire.

lnFigs. 6 and 7, thereis shown another modified-form of the presentinvention which is similar to the above described structure as indicatedby the application of identical vreference numerals with the sux b.added to corresponding elements. As will be seen by referring to thedrawings, this embodiment diers primarily in that securing means 16b isformed integral with the ange 24h of the frame member. Morespeciiically,the securing means 1Gb isprovided by an extell$i011 of ,the Aflange2.4!1., which .extensionincludes a portion ,50 whiebis bent laterallyoutwardly ornewnwerdly .from the, .11ans/.e and n Portion 5,2v whichextendsY back toward; therange `and prpvides a restricted opening',V forreceiving the [margin o r Ahem of the covering fabricY 14b.freemalgjllal portion 54 of thesecuring -means ispreferably-dared-outfWardly-to .faoltate insertion of the covering tabrohem and the wire orrod enclosed rin the hem through ythe testtieted orening- Preferably7 aplurality of ,teeth `5.6 lare striuck inwardly from andate s lPaCedalong the pqr.- tion 52 for further closing the restricted opening V andfor positively preventing removal of `the rfabric from the opening.y Y yIn Figs. v8 Yand 9, there is vshown :an embodiment 4similar .toV theembodiment of Figs. 6, and 7 as indicated by the application ofidentical reference numerals with the suiix c added to correspondingelements. This embodimentdiffers in that the above described teeth' havebeen omitted and the engagement between the portion 521e ,of thesecuring means and the wire or rod Within the hem ,of the fabric may berelied upon for preventing disassembly of the fabric f As shown best inFig. 8, the portionrSZc is initially formed s o that therestrictedopening provided thereby is relatively wide. This arrangementfacilitates insertion ofthe fabric hem and wire or rod therein throughthe opening. After the hem and the wire or rod have been insertedthrough the opening, the portion 52e is collapsed inwardly as shown inVFig. 9 securely to hold the hem of the'fabrie eoyerins. Y

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention hasprovided a novel structure whereby fabric panels may be quickly andeasily connected with a metal.

frame member. In, addition, it is seen that thenovel fabric securingmeans of the present invention is adapted to retain the `fabric evenlythrough its entire length whereby to tednee any possibility ofunsightly-boleta or wrinkles appealing in the fabric. It should also benoted that the fabric panel securing means described above not onlyserve to retain the fabric in assembled relationshipY with the framemember but also serve. to reinforce the flange of the frame member sincethey extend for substantially the entire length of the flange.

While the preferred, embodiments of the present; inf vention have beenshown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural detailsmay be changed withoutdepanting from the spirit and scope of theappended elaints.

'libe present invention is claimed as follows:

1. A structure for use in furniture and the like com.- prising a metalframe member, fabric panel means, means securing said;fabric panelmeans` and saidY frame member .togthen said securing means including aseparate sheet metal member having a base portion secured-tosaid framemember, Ya second portion extending from said base portion generally inone direction and flaring away from said frame member, and a reverselybent portion extending from said second portion between said secondportion and the frame member toward said base portion and substantiallyto said frame member and providing a restricted opening along asubstantial length of said frame member, said fabric panel means havinga portion thereof extending through said restricted opening and retainedagainst removal from said opening by interengagement with said reverselybent portion.

2. A structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein said reversely bentportion terminates in av plurality of Ylongitudinally spacedteethimpinging said fabric means, and wherein said fabric means includesa hem portion extending into said restricted opening, and an elongatedmember extending longitudinally within said hem portion and cooperatingvwith said reversely bent portion for preventing removal of the hemportionfrom said restricted opening- Y 3. A structure for use in`furniture and the like comprising a metal frame member, fabric panelmeans, means securing said fabric panel 4means and said metal framemember together, said securing means including sheet metal meansextending laterally from a portion of said frame member and generally inone direction, and teeth means integral with a free marginal portion ofsaid sheet metal means and extending reversely generally in an oppositedirection and between said sheet metal means and said frameV member backtoward Vand substantially to ysaid frame member portion,l said fabricpanel means having a portion thereof inserted and retained bef' tweensaid frame member portion and Ysaid teeth means.

4. In a structurefor use in furniture and the like the combinationcomprising a metal frame member, and means on said frame member forsecuring fabric panel means to the frame member, which fabric panelmeans extends from the frame member in one direction, said Securngvmeansincluding a separate sheet Ymetal member extending along an O utersurface of and secured to a substantial length of said frame member,Vsaidrsheet metal member having a portion extending laterally from asection of said frame member and generally in a direction Opposite fromsaid one direction, anda retaining portion projecting from saidlaterally extending portion toward said frame member and between saidlaterally extending-portion and said section reversely toward said onedirection and substantially to said section to provide an elongatedrestr-ietedopening between said frame member section; and said retainingportion of thesheet metal member, into which opening a fabric panelmeans may beinserted audjlueid by a free marginal edge of said retainingportion.

5,V A Structure, as dened in, claim 4, which includes teeth. meansdisposed along said free marginal edge and extending substantially tosaid frame member section forimpjnging fabric panel means being heldl bysaldretaining portion:-

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,695,051 Naughton .v.,- Nov. 23, 1954

